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China’s Gaokao tops the list with around 1.29 crore candidates, followed by Brazil’s ENEM, China’s Guokao civil services exam at rank 4 and national master’s entrance exam at 5th.
China’s Gaokao offers an example of how a massive examination can be organised at national scale. (File/Representative Image)
India’s National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) is among the world’s largest examinations, with around 25 lakh candidates, according to a survey conducted by the State Bank of India (SBI).
Based on candidate numbers, NEET UG ranks among the top five largest exams globally. China’s Gaokao tops the list with around 1.29 crore candidates, followed by Brazil’s ENEM with 48 lakh, China’s Guokao civil services exam with 37 lakh and China’s national master’s entrance exam with 34 lakh candidates.
Other major examinations include Turkiye’s YKS, which has around 24 lakh candidates, Nigeria’s UTME with about 22 lakh candidates and the SAT, which has around 20 lakh candidates globally. In India, the UPSC Civil Services Exam attracts around 12 lakh candidates, while JEE Main has around 10 lakh candidates and UGC-NET around 8 lakh candidates.
The SBI Research report, titled The State of Higher Education in India since 2014: A decade of proliferation with empowerment of women and marginalised sections, compares major examinations across countries and examines possible lessons for India’s examination system.
How China’s Gaokao Handles 1.29 Crore Candidates
China’s Gaokao offers an example of how a massive examination can be organised at national scale. In 2026, around 1.29 crore candidates registered for the examination. It was conducted across 7,981 centres, with 3.48 lakh exam rooms and 21,000 reserve rooms.
The report highlights several security measures used for the exam, including secure printing facilities, 24-hour surveillance, armoured and GPS-tracked vehicles for transporting question papers, police escorts and monitored, steel-reinforced storage facilities.
Candidates undergo identity verification and checks for prohibited items, while exam centres are monitored through video surveillance. Authorities also coordinate arrangements related to traffic, noise control, food, health and weather contingencies.
The report points to measures such as secure custody of examination material, advance contingency planning, transparent marking, grievance redressal and evidence-based evaluation as possible lessons for India.
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According to the SBI report, NTA remains a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. By July 2024, it had conducted more than 240 exams involving over 5.4 crore candidates. The report also states that of 194 disclosed NTA personnel, 171 were contractual or outsourced employees, accounting for around 88 per cent of the workforce.
Against this backdrop, SBI Research has recommended a stronger statutory framework for NTA through an NTA Act of Parliament. It has proposed an expert board, a permanent professional workforce, independent review mechanisms, a candidate charter and greater public accountability.
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Ask News18According to a survey conducted by the State Bank of India (SBI), India’s National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) ranks as the world’s fifth largest examination, with approximately 25 lakh candidates participating.
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October 01, 2026, 13:02 IST
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